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    Home » Recipes » Tips and Tricks

    How to Peel A Pomegranate Without A Mess

    By Lily・Published: Jan 5, 2021・Updated: Jun 2, 2021・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you've ever tried to cut and de-seed a pomegranate, you probably ended up with stained hands and nothing less of a crime scene. I too struggled with how to peel a pomegranate, resulting in expensive Pom pomegranate purchases from the grocery store. My smoothies were suffering, and I had to find another way.

    This post is how I batch cut and de-seed pomegranates, so I have pomegranate seeds for my pomegranate smoothie, hummus fatteh, better than baba ganoush eggplant dip, killer fatoush salad, and whatever else my heart fancies.

    Not to mention, pomegranates are much cheaper when in season (during the late summer and early winter months), so this is a great solution for saving a little bit of money.

    What I Love About This Technique

    This pomegranate peeling technique is a time-saver and stain-reducer. I just cut and de-seeded 10 pomegranates in less than 15 minutes, filling 2-gallon size freezer bags. My hands are unstained and my clothes are still in good shape.

    How To Tell If A Pomegranate Is Ripe

    A pomegranate becomes less round and more angular as it ripens. The color of the pomegranate exterior should be a shade of red with no shades of green. A ripe pomegranate should feel heavy when picked up because the seeds are full of juice. Also, the texture of the skin is a good indication. Thin and rough skin indicates a more ripe pomegranate vs. a pomegranate with thick and smooth skin.

    How To Tell If A Pomegranate Is Bad

    If your pomegranate smells or tastes off, chances are it's bad. Another way of determining a bad pomegranate is by color and texture. If the color of the seeds or peel is dark brown or the fruit is mushy when held, the fruit has gone bad.

    How to Cut a Pomegranate

    The messiest part of this process is cutting the pomegranate into quarters. I recommend cutting all of the pomegranates at the same time to minimize the mess.

    Cut the ends off the pomegranate. Slice the pomegranate into quarters. One tip for reducing the pomegranate splash is to keep the pomegranate together while you cut it. The seeds have nowhere to squirt.

    cutting the ends off of a pomegranate
    cutting the pomegranate into quarters

    Place the pomegranate quarters in a large bowl.

    pomegranate cut into quarters

    How to De-Seed a Pomegranate

    Put a few pomegranate quarters in a large bowl of water. Remove the seeds while submerged in the water. The seeds should separate fairly easily from the peel.

    2 pomegranate quarters in a large bowl of water
    remove the pomegranate arils individually

    The peel will float to the top, and the pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom. Remove the peel from the top of the water.

    the pomegranate peel floating to the surface when deseeding the pomegranate
    separate the sin from the pomegranate

    Continue de-seeding the pomegranate quarters. Strain the pomegranate seeds using a strainer. Store the pomegranate seeds in a freezer-friendly storage bag.

    straining the pomegranate seeds using a strainer
    pomegranate seeds in a glad freezer bag

    How To Remove Pomegranate Juice Stain

    If you happen to get pomegranate juice on your clothes, follow this method for removing the pomegranate stain. Don't wait for the stain to set into the fabric. Lay the fabric on top of a bowl. Pour boiling water over the fabric and use a toothbrush to brush out the stain. If the stain doesn't go, add some stain remover. Brush again. Wash the fabric as you normally would.

    Health Benefits Of Pomegranate

    Pomegranates are jam-packed with nutrients and antioxidants. This sweet delicious fruit has immune-boosting Vitamin C and studies have shown and prostate cancer and heart disease amongst other things.

    pomegranate arils in a bowl

    Storage

    Store pomegranate seeds in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days. Pomegranate seeds store very well in an airtight freezer bag in the freezer for up to 4 months.

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    📋 Recipe

    pomegranate arils close up in a bowl

    How to Peel a Pomegranate Without a Mess

    Author: Lily
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: International
    Prep: 15 minutes mins
    Total: 30 minutes mins
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 8
    This is the best way to cut and de-seed a pomegranate without a mess, in very little time, and have pomegranate seeds year-round.

    Ingredients
     

    • pomegranates

    Instructions

    How to Cut a Pomegranate

    • Cut the ends off of the pomegranate.
    • Lay the pomegranate with the flat surface side down on the cutting board. Cut from the center outward rotating every 90 degrees. You will be left with 4 quarters of the pomegranate

    How To De-Seed a Pomegranate

    • Add a few pomegranate quarters to a large bowl of water. 
    • Gently remove the seeds from the white peel.
    • The seeds will sink to the bottom, and the peel will float to the top. Skim the peel from the water. Continue to de-seed the pomegranate quarters until finished.
    • Remove all of the white peels from the water.
    • Strain the pomegranate seeds using a strainer.
    • Store the pomegranate in an airtight container or eat right away. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 128 kcal | Carbohydrates: 29 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 5 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 21 g

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    About Lily

    Howdy! My name is Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa Lee

      June 11, 2023 at 8:24 pm

      Excited to try the No Mess Pomegranate Seeding Process!
      And having them in the freezer for whenever I want a Pomegranate fix!

      Reply
      • Lily

        June 11, 2023 at 9:00 pm

        Thanks for the comment, Lisa. It’s a game changer!

        Reply
    2. Lori Stringer

      July 13, 2021 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      Saved me a ton of time! I just peeled 10 pomegranates and stuck several bags full in the freezer.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 13, 2021 at 6:45 pm

        Awesome! I like to use my frozen pomegranate arils in my smoothies.

        Reply

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    lily at the matbakh

    I'm Lily

    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

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